Coastal Carolina tops ECU, forces Monday finale for trip to NCAA super regional

Nick Parker allowed three hits and struck out a career-high 10 in eight innings Sunday night and Coastal Carolina pounded four home runs to beat No. 8 overall seed East Carolina 9-1 force a decisive game on Monday in the Greensville Regional.

Tyler Johnson belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the first and Chris Rowan Jr. had a solo shot on the next pitch to stake the Chanticleers to an early lead.

Nick Lucky launched a three-run shot in the third and that was plenty for Parker (6-3). Reece Maniscalco, who got the win over Virginia earlier in the day, pitched the ninth and gave up Bryson Worrell’s home run for the Pirates’ only run.

Matt McDermott had a leadoff home run in the sixth and Coastal Carolina (39-19-1) added single runs in seventh and eighth.

The Pirates (44-19) used seven pitchers with starter Jake Kuchmaner (4-3) taking the loss.

Earlier Sunday, Coastal Carolina scored seven unanswered runs — including the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning — to earn a 7-6 win over Virginia and eliminate the Cavaliers.

“To sum up the day, wow,” Coastal coach Gary Gilmore said Sunday night. “The kids played incredibly hard and incredibly well.”

The winner of the Greensville Regional matches up next weekend in a super regional with the winner of the Austin Regional (Texas or Air Force).

▪ Monday update: East Carolina led Coastal 4-0 through three innings Monday in a game that did not end in time for this edition. Read about it now at myrtlebeachonline.com.

This story was originally published June 5, 2022 at 10:06 PM.